After nearly a decade back together, The Pixies look as though they're ready to fall apart again after bassist Kim Deal walked out on the band earlier this week. In a statement posted on the group's official Facebook page, the three remaining members of the group told fans that Kim had decided to leave the group by mutual consent, with the rest of the band thanking her for her contribution of the past 25 or so years.

Black Francis/Frank Black, Joey Santiago and Dave Lovering signed off on a statement that detailed Kim's decision and thanked her for her enduring contribution to the band during the good and the bad times. It read; "We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years. Despite her decision to move on, we will always consider her a member of the Pixies, and her place will always be here for her. We wish her all the best."

Kim meanwhile is still on course to continue touring with her band The Breeders, who she formed during the break-up of the Pixies in the early 90's (the band eventually split in 1993 before getting back together for a series of tours in 2004). Deal co-founded The Breeders with her twin sister Kelley and is currently touring on the back of the 20th anniversary of their first album, Last Splash.

Deal is also a founding member of the Pixies, having answered an ad in the Boston Phoenix in 1986 posted by frontman Frank Black. She became a driving force in the band behind Black, although tensions between the two is what eventually led to the group's split in 1993.